Last night, we returned from our Beijing house-hunting trip to Hong Kong, where the Swine Flu seems to be taking hold. We immediately noticed an increase in the number of people wearing masks, reminding us of our previous experience here with SARS. Still, the airport and city were bustling – unlike those dark days in 2003.
On June 11, the Hong Kong Government closed all nursery and primary schools for two weeks when a cluster of students fell ill at a secondary school. Health officials were unable to trace the outbreak to foreign sources and determined it to be an indigenous outbreak. With the flu’s relatively low penetration in Hong Kong, the closures seemed an overreaction – even taking into consideration the Territory’s past experience with pestilence. I hoped schools would reopen before the last day so that my daughter would have the opportunity to say good-bye to her friends and teachers.
Instead, upon our arrival last night, we heard that the government had extended the closure. With the flu count increasing to 408, and 60 new cases reported yesterday, health officials are not taking any chances. It all seemed a bit too close when a notice in our building’s elevator informed us that a case of Swine Flu had been found in our complex; apparently a little boy had fallen ill while we were in Beijing. Emergency precautions are now underway including plastic on elevator buttons, which are being disinfected each hour, and temporary closure of the children’s play areas.
Erik and I talked about the difference in our perception of danger now that we have a child. Although nervous, we never seriously considered leaving the area during SARS – even when health officials thought the disease might be airborne. This time around, our four-year-old daughter has given us pause. We are fortunate to be escaping Hong Kong just as Swine Flu is gaining strength. I had worried that I would be overwhelmed by sadness as I said goodbye to Hong Kong this Sunday; the latest turn of events makes it a little easier.